Improvement in car-couplings



w. H. & L. WADDELL &1 A. LUTZ.

Gar-Coupiing.

950,142,970, Patented September16,1873.-

w W Wm. M Attorneys.

AM Pl/OW-l/THLIEMP/l/C' tu. M woman 5's PROCESS/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WADDELL, LYTTLETON WADDELL, AND JOHN A. LUTZ, OF OHUROHVILLE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,970, dated Septcmber 16, 1873 application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM HENRY WADDELL, LYTTLETON WADDELL, and JOHN AUGUSTUS LUTZ, of Ohurchville, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a sectional, side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view.

The invention relates to car-couplings generally, but particularly to the one patented to L. and W. H. \Vaddell, dated June 5,. 1860, upon which are based the several features of improvement.hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

- In the drawing, A represents a lever, having a pivoted foot-piece, A, and B a bar, loosely pivoted at a point opposite thereto, they having, respectively, the reverse hooks a and b, which grapple together and hold the foot-piece in a horizontal position. 0 is apivoted trigger, which, being pushed inward, raises hook-bar B and causes the lever A to be unlocked. As soon as this occurs a spring, D, made of rubber or other material, forces forward the end a of the lever A, and causes the footpiece A to rise into an oblique position. E is a pivoted link-hook, weighted at the end 0, so that it will always protrude upward in front, except when drawn down by the link in uncoupling. In entering the draw-head the link passes over itsupper inclined face. This linkhook is locked by the lever A, whose end a is pushed by the spring D thereover, and unlocked whenever foot-pressure is brought to bear upon piece A. H H are loosely-pivoted stops, which occupy a position in rear and upper part of draw-head, under which the link is placed preparatoryto coupling, thereby entirely preventing said link from falling from a horizontal position. K K are lugs, having holes through which is inserted a rod or pin, L. The latter is attached by chain to drawhead, and passes either under hook I) to prevent the possibility of uncoupling, or behind the piece A to prevent recoupling, when desired.

This construction produces a very effective and reliable coupling.

Having thus described our invention, wha we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The lever A, provided with a foot-piece, A, on top of draw-head, by which the end a may be forced off the end 6 of link-hook, in the manner set forth.

2. The treadle-hook a and grapple-hook b, combined to hold the lever A so that the cars may remain uncoupled, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the grapple-hook bar B b, of the subjacent trigger G, to lift the same and allow the spring-pressed lever A to turn back and lock the link-hook, as specified.

4. The combination, with lever A, of the apertured lugs K K and pin L, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The lever A A a a, the spring D, the link-hook E e, the trigger O, and the grapplehook bar B b, all combined, constructed, and arranged in the manner described.

WILLIAM HENRY WADDELL. LYTTLETON WADDELL. JOHN AUGUSTUS LUTZ. \Vitnesses as to L. VVADDELL vand J. A. LUTZ:

D.-E. EUNTH, F. R. BEAN. Witnesses as to W. H. WADDELL:

G. S. WALKER, O. T. UOOHRAN. 

